KEEP ON SCREAMING: an interview with STEPHANIE BEATON

By Jon Scott

I recently had a chance to talk to Stephanie Beaton in between her busy schedule. She recently finished filming The Evilmaker in Oregon for Pipedreams Entertainment. It's hard not to smile when you are around this enthusiastic woman. She is full of energy and it's easy to understand why people are knocking down her door to be able to work with her.

Jon: You have done all kinds of roles in the horror field. Is there any type of film / character you have not played that you are dying to?

Stephanie: The role that I am dying to play is a serial killer. I would love to play the Black Widow type of woman who kills and no one suspects that it's me. I would love to do a Basic Instinct type of role. I just love a woman who is in control!!

Jon: What scares you the most? For me it's the spirit realm.

Stephanie: What scares me the most? Getting up in front of a camera! Hahaha! Well, I actually love the spirit realm myself so nothing like that scares me. It fascinates me actually! But, I do have this fear. (You are going to think I'm weird) but I do have a fear / fantasy of being chased by a semi or Tracker with no one driving its just like in the horror films! Don't ask me why, but that always got me when I was a kid..otherwise , heights and I'm afraid of being fried by electric things!!

Jon: Can you give us a rundown of your films and which one was your favorite to work on / see?

Stephanie: Oh my god, I have done so many!! Okay, here is my filmography for you.

Unnaturally Born Killer, Video release (1995)
Monopoly, video release (1995)
Teen Witches, video release (1995)
Shattered Mind, NBC movie of the week (1996)
Through the Looking Glass, NBC movie of the week (1996)
Witchcraft 9, video release (1996)
The Zombie Ninja, video release (1996 / 1997)
A Mid-Cybers Night's Dream, Showtime (1997)
Twilight, video release (1997)
Tales From The Cannibal Side, video release (1997)
Dying to Meet You, video release (1997)
Witchcraft 10, video release (1997)
A Passion to Kill, video release (1998)
Headcrusher, video release (1998)
Eyes of a Werewolf, video release (3-D) (1999)
Witchcraft 11, video release (1999)
V-World Matrix, (3-D) (1999)
Open Wide, video release (1999)
The Evilmaker, video release (1999 / 2000)

My favorite, oh my god, there are so many!. But some are more memorable because of certain things that happens on the set. My favorite has to be The Evilmaker by far! Great people to work with all around. Talented director, wonderful Special Effects and everyone worked very hard in some tough situations. That's when it's the best, when you are like a team, almost a family.

Jon: You travel quite a bit for your roles. Is filming in LA becoming a thing of the past?

Stephanie: Right now it seems that for me. Los Angeles isn't the real place to be at all. It seems that most of the jobs I book are out of state. Which is great, because I don't want to live here unless I have too.

Jon: You have an awesome scream. Did you practice long on it?

Stephanie: No. Actually it comes naturally. I never knew I could scream like that until my first audition of Unnaturally Born Killer. I had to scream and it just came out! So, from then on out, I scream every chance I get!

Jon: If you could be any kind of food, what would you be? Haha!

Stephanie: I guess I would be a raw piece of meat, like a bloody steak! Hahaha! Don't ask me why, but I do love raw meat!

Jon: Do you like location shoots? Or do you prefer to be close to home?

Stephanie: I guess I do like shooting close to home because when you are wrapped for the night, you can go home. But, when you are on the road, you are in a hotel bed and you know how that is. And it's tough. It's tiring and you are exhausted after the shoot. Mostly after I film anything, weather it be here in L.A. or elsewhere, I am tired! Stress from the shoot does it to you though.

Jon: Who were your influences when you were growing up in the entertainment industry?

Stephanie: When I was a kid, I was into horror films! Haha! The Shinning, Phantasm, etc. I liked Demi Moore, but of course she came out when I was a teen. She was an influence to me.

Jon: What horror movie scared you the most and what kind of effect did it have on you?

Stephanie: It had to be Phantasm and the scene when the Nome's were under the bed. Scared the shit out of me for sleeping that night! But I think the films about vehicles chasing people made me twisted and who I am today!! Haha!

Jon: Are you interested at all in being behind the camera instead of being in front?

Stephanie: Actually, I don't know yet if I want to try my hand at Directing anything. It's hard work. I see what Directors go through and how they have to handle things and it's tough! I don't know how they do it. Maybe in the future I might try a short and see how it goes. I will try my hand at editing, etc..

Jon: You read in articles about actresses have a no nudity clause in their contracts. How do you feel about this?

Stephanie: I think that's fine. To each his own, right? I personally am big on not doing the whole T&A films that will put me in a specific category where I don't want to be. So, if someone doesn't want too, they shouldn't have too!

Jon: They say that love scenes are the hardest to film because of the nerves involved. What has been your experience?

Stephanie: Love scenes are the hardest and a lot of people, guys out there who have never tried it, say they wouldn't have a problem with it. Well believe me, the whole time you are nervous!! Nervous about your body, being careful not to touch and making sure you fake things well. Plus you are thrown in with someone you may not like not even as a person! Hahaha! It's bad! It's really uncomfortable! My worst experience has to be when this actor was supposed to just be caressing my breasts..well, he bit them! And not just once, three times! Every time they shot the scene again, he would bite! I was so angry and so upset I almost walked off the set and never finished the film. That had to be the worst.

Jon: I heard you say once that the make up and special effects on The Evilmaker were some of the best that you have seen. What's it like working with all of that blood and being made up the same time after time?

Stephanie: You mean in every film I do being drowned in blood? Or just this film? It's fun!! I like it. It's grueling sometimes especially when you are filming at night during the winter covered in that Hollywood blood. You get very cold. Once I was completely naked and covered in the Hollywood blood. Believe me it's not something you want to do because it dries and it hardens. It pulls every hair out of your body when you move. Just imagine sitting down! It wasn't pretty for me. I think that was my first experience at waxing!

Jon: Who would you most like to work with in the future?

Stephanie: As for a director, Stephen King. David Lynch would be fun too!

Jon: Where do you see yourself ten years from now? What would you have like to accomplished?

Stephanie: I would like to be established in the industry with my name out there in every household. Moved out of Los Angeles and living in a nice peaceful place, happy, with the man of my dreams! But, if I never made it further in my carrier than I am right now, at least I can look back and say I touched the face of it, I was there! And that makes me perfectly content just knowing!

Jon: What projects are in your future?

Stephanie: Well, I have a ton of projects in the future. They are sort of hanging right now, but some aren't. Some are definite. I have one in Oklahoma called The Seventh Coin which I plan on shooting in May / June. Plus I have a huge autograph signing planned there as well. I may possible be in Witchcraft 12. Back to reprise my role as Det. Lutz again for the 4th time. I have a film in Texas pending, one in New Hampshire pending and another in Baltimore pending. I am also starting my production company back up again, Silver Moon Productions, and I'm working on a script right now. I'm looking to shoot it in the spring of 2000.

Jon: Any advice out there for women wanting to become scream queens?

Stephanie: Well, like I tell anyone who wants to be in this business. It's tough and be careful for the bad guys out there. Keep your eyes open and keep a business mind and do lots of films. Get used to the camera, the set, the direction and what it's like and never give up!! And if you want to be a scream queen, then start screaming! Hahaha!

You can reach Stephanie at her Fan Club at www.stephaniebeaton.com

For information on The Evilmaker, please go to: http://members.xoom.com/oregonvideo